August 11, 2020 2:01pm by David Farrar

Two whoppers from the PM

Stuff reports:

Asked about the National’s commitment to get tough on gangs, Ardern said the best way to deal with gangs and methamphetamine in the community was to support the police. The Government had done that by adding more than 2000 police, she said.Ardern criticised the previous National government, she said that under Judith Collins – who was police minister from 2008-2011 – there was a decrease in the number of police.

Two whoppers here.

The first is they have now added on more than 2,000 Police. There are 1,260 more Police now than in October 2017. She is trying to claim every new Police recruit as “adding Police” but that is nonsensical.

Imagine a CEO who had 300 staff quit and then hired 100 new staff and claimed they had “added more than 100 staff”.

The second whopper is her claim police numbers decreased under Judith Collins. Here are the FTE sworn Police numbers from Police annual reports:

  • 30 June 2008: 8,453
  • 30 June 2009: 8,776
  • 30 June 2010: 8,789
  • 30 June 2011: 8,856
  • 30 June 2012: 8,940